Impatiens plant named ‘Balbonicher’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Balbonicher’, characterized by its double-type, medium red-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Impatiens walleriana.

Variety denomination: ‘Balbonicher’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens walleriana and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balbonicher’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Bellefonte, Pa. during April 2009. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Impatiens cultivars with fully double-type, large flowers, and with a compact-mounded growth habit.

The new Impatiens cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Impatiens walleriana breeding selection coded 5446c-1, not patented, characterized by its semi-double type, light red-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Impatiens walleriana breeding selection coded 5418-2, not patented, characterized by its double-type, dark red-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, spreading growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as an individual flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during March 2010 in a controlled environment in Bellefonte, Pa.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since March 2010 in Bellefonte, Pa.; Arroyo Grande, Calif.; and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balbonicher’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Double-type, medium red-colored flowers;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower form and flower color shade. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in growth habit. In addition, plants of the new cultivar have darker green-colored foliage than both the female and male parents.

Of the many commercially available Impatiens cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Fiesta Ole Cherry ‘Balolecher’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,668. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balolecher’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from         plants of ‘Balolecher’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have larger flowers, as measured         by width and depth, than plants of ‘Balolecher’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have larger leaves, as measured by         length and width, than plants of ‘Balolecher’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balbonicher’. The plants were grown in 4-inch pots for 6 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balbonicher’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balbonicher’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in November 2014 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4-inch pots for 6 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana cultivar Balbonicher. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana breeding             selection coded 5446c-1, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana breeding             selection coded 5418-2, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 5 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 14 to 21             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             compact-mounded growth habit.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 10.5 cm. Width: Approximately 18.5 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Quantity of main branches             per plant: Approximately 4.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: Approximately             5.0 cm. Diameter at central internode: Approximately 4.0 mm.             Length of central internode: Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture:             Glabrous. Color of young and mature stems: 146D with streaks             of 187B; streaks wider at the node regions. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 8. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement:             Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem, becoming perpendicular             with age. Shape: Elliptic to broadly elliptic. Margin:             Crenate, ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf at center of stem:             Approximately 6.5 cm. Width of mature leaf at center of             stem: Approximately 4.1 cm. Texture of upper surface:             Sparsely pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous.             Color of upper surface of young foliage: Closest to 139A             with venation of 137B. Color of lower surface of young and             mature foliage: Closest to 138B with irregular areas of 187B             and venation of 138A. Color of upper surface of mature             foliage: Closest to 137A mixed with 139A, venation of 137B.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 147D with             faint streaks of 187B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balbonicher’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             6 to 7 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Double. Quantity per plant:             Approximately 7. Fragrance: None.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity             showing color per plant: Approximately 10.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately             1.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 cm. Color: 36B.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Hemispherical. Width: Approximately 5.1 cm.             Depth: Approximately 3.2 cm. Borne: Above and below the             foliage.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 55. Shape: Obovate; innermost ovate.             Aspect: Flat. Appearance: Iridescent. Margin: Entire. Apex:             Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Length of outermost petals:             Approximately 2.4 cm. Width of outermost petals:             Approximately 2.3 cm. Length of innermost petals:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Width of innermost petals:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first and fully open:             45B to 45C. Color of lower surface when first and fully             open: 37A with outermost having central stripe of NN155D.         -   Spur.—Quantity: 1 per flower. Length: Approximately 3.5 cm.             Diameter at proximal end: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at             distal end: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145C             with an overlay of 187C at tip.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderate. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.             Length: Approximately 3.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately             2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4, with one fused to base of             upper petal, lower sepal typically not observed on             fully-opened flower. Shape of lateral sepals: Lanceolate.             Shape of lower sepal: Ovate. Apex of all sepals: Acute.             Length of lateral sepals: Approximately 3.0 mm. Width of             lateral sepals: Approximately 1.0 mm. Length of lower sepal:             Approximately 1.3 cm. Width of lower sepal: Approximately             1.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces of all sepals:             Glabrous, lower sepal papery. Color of upper and lower             surfaces of lateral sepals: 144A. Color of upper and lower             surfaces of lower sepal: Colorless.         -   Reproductive organs.—None observed. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Impatiens has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Balbonicher’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 